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Rights and Freedoms
22 February 2023News storyUrgent action needed following termination of UN inspection
The Australian Human Rights Commission says an extraordinary decision to terminate a tour of Australian places of detention by United Nations inspectors reflects Australia’s fragmented approach to protecting the human rights of people in detention. -
6 February 2024Conciliation register
2022-10-12
The complainant is gay. She was employed for three months with the respondent sports governing body. The complainant alleged that a colleague made comments about gay women which made her uncomfortable in the workplace including that playing the sport “will make you gay”, that gay women are more likely to have psychological issues and display predatory behaviours and that he would prefer that… -
Race Discrimination
13 February 2019Media ReleaseReconciliation Australia Barometer shows steady progress, but still work to do
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO and the Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan have welcomed today’s release of the Reconciliation Barometer. The survey conducted every two years since 2008, measures the progress of reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians. Among the key findings;… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
3 February 2023Media ReleaseFirst Nations Commissioner calls for community-led solutions to Alice Springs unrest
Commissioner June Oscar AO has given her support to the reported recommendations of the Federal Government’s Northern Territory Regional Controller Dorelle Anderson to introduce temporary alcohol restrictions across communities in Central Australia following a recent increase in crime and violence in the region. -
Race Discrimination
19 February 2024Media Release
Anti-racism grant to support communities affected by war in Gaza
The Australian Human Rights Commission will undertake further anti-racism work to support communities in Australia affected by the war in Gaza and the Middle East, supported by a $2 million grant from the Commonwealth. The grant responds to an increase in racism targeting Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, and Jewish communities within Australia since the outbreak of the conflict. Australian Human… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
17 January 2019Media Release
Time to act on constitutional recognition
The current and former Social Justice Commissioners have called for political leadership to ensure the recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on constitutional recognition are realised. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO and former commissioners Mick Gooda, Professor Tom Calma AO, Dr William Jonas AM and Emeritus Professor Mick Dodson… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 February 2024News story
Tribute to Lowitja O'Donoghue
Reflecting on Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue's legacy, Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO said: "In my life, as is true for countless others, Lowitja O’Donoghue has been a towering figure of social justice, committed to guaranteeing our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights are recognised and responded to by Australia. She will be remembered always as a remarkable woman who lived across… -
11 February 2021Conciliation register
2019-07-13
The complainant contacted the respondent company for service because she was experiencing problems with appliances she had purchased from the company. She claimed when she called the mobile number of the technician for the company to enquire about the status of the repair, she heard another male answer the phone and refer to her as ‘some bitch’ to the technician. She claimed the technician… -
11 February 2021Conciliation register
2019-07-14
The complainant is employed as a retail assistant with the respondent retailer. She alleged the company’s appearance standards policy, which had recently been circulated, required female employees to wear make-up and used gendered language and stereotypes. For example, she said the policy required women to wear their hair tied back, rather than requiring any employee with long hair to tie… -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2020-10-12
The complainant said the respondent called her to offer cleaning services. She alleged that when she asked the price, he said ‘Oh, it’s a bloody Indian’. The respondent recalled saying the words and expressed a desire to try to resolve the complaint by conciliation. The complaint was resolved. The respondent apologised to the complainant, saying that the comment was not nice, was… -
10 February 2021Conciliation register
2019-07-14
The complainant is employed as a retail assistant with the respondent retailer. She alleged the company’s appearance standards policy, which had recently been circulated, required female employees to wear make-up and used gendered language and stereotypes. For example, she said the policy required women to wear their hair tied back, rather than requiring any employee with long hair to tie… -
Rights and Freedoms
12 August 2020Media Release
Combatting modern slavery in property and construction
The Australian Human Rights Commission and KPMG Banarra are today launching their first of five sector specific guides to help Australian businesses understand and manage their modern slavery risks. Property, Construction and Modern Slavery: Practical responses to managing risks to people, is a practical guide to help this industry respond effectively to the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth)… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
24 May 2023News story
One year since the Uluru Statement called for Voice, Treaty & Truth
The Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO is encouraging all Australians to reflect on the call made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Central Australia one year ago. On May 26 last year, First Nations peoples from around the country presented the historic Uluru Statement from the Heart. It called for: constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful… -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2020-10-11
The complainant’s son is an Australian citizen who was born outside Australia. She alleged he was unable to be considered for an internship with the respondent engineering company because he was born outside Australia. The engineering company said it had obligations to its stakeholders that required strict recruitment processes. However, after considering the issues raised in the complaint,… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
8 May 2019Media Release
Our Choices, Our Voices: Celebrating Success on National Close the Gap Day
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO and the Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples Rod Little, will today release the 2019 Close the Gap report – “Our Choices, Our Voices”. The report, prepared by the Lowitja Institute, is being released at a community event at Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation – Aboriginal Medical Service… -
Commission – General
29 March 2023Media ReleaseDr Ben Gauntlett appointed as Deputy Commissioner to the NACC
The Attorney-General, The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC today announced that Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Ben Gauntlett has been appointed as Deputy Commissioner to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. -
10 February 2021Conciliation register
2019-07-04
The complainant was employed as a records officer with the respondent government agency. He had degeneration of his knees and ankles, which made it very difficult for him to deliver mail. After being provided with relevant medical information, the agency removed him from mailroom delivery duties. The complainant alleged that the agency then denied him acting-up opportunities and informed him… -
14 January 2021Conciliation register
2019-05-15
The complainant is deaf and uses Auslan to communicate. She said she was offered the use of Auslan interpreters on three occasions when she first started work at the respondent public hospital. However, she said no further Auslan support was provided over the ensuing years, meaning she was often unable to understand what was being said at meetings or training courses, including information… -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2020-08-10
The complainant attended the respondent private high school. She alleged that a colleague sexually harassed her, including by taking photos under her skirt, spreading rumours about her sex life, and circulating photos purported to be of her in the nude. She said she made a complaint about this behaviour to the school, but no action was taken. She claimed the school withdrew an award from her… -
8 April 2022Conciliation register
2020-10-05
The complainant is Deaf. She enrolled in a face-to-face class which was later delivered virtually due to Covid-19. She alleged the teacher declined her request to explain and then demonstrate artistic practices, saying this would take too long. She also said the teacher suggested she wait until face-to-face classes became available once more. The complainant said she was unable to enrol in…